Thousands of people are expected to flock to Armada this weekend to celebrate the “grandmother of herbs” at the Michigan Lavender Festival.

The 11th annual event is set for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday to Sunday at Blake’s Orchard and Cider Mill, at 17985 Armada Center Road in Armada.

Live music, demonstrations, gourmet food, shopping and free children’s activities are among this year’s festival highlights.

“We’re offering a lot more free demonstrations than we had before,” said Jennifer Vasich, festival founder and creative director. “Whole Foods Market is going to be coming this year as an event sponsor. They’re going to do a healthy cooking class, offer free samples and a class on how to make your own lavender hand cream.”

Advertisement

Admission costs $5 for adults and includes unlimited seating to classes and demonstrations. A three-day pass costs $9. Parking is free.

Vasich, an aromatherapist and massage therapist, said she noticed the many healing benefits of lavender early in her career.

“One of the main things with lavender is it helps the mind and body to calm down and it helps soothe your nerves,” she said. “We live in a very anxious society. From the very beginning our intention was to help people relax and escape from the hustle and bustle of life.”

Lavender flowers have been used to treat and prevent various ailments for centuries. According to the festival website, lavender essential oil is easily and quickly absorbed into the skin and can be detected in the blood in as little as five minutes.

Lavender can be used to treat anxiety, depression, mental exhaustion, insomnia, scrapes and wounds, digestive problems, headaches, heat exposure, fevers, pain, rashes and skin problems. When mixed with water, it can be used as a household disinfectant and insect repellant.

The festival will feature a wide variety of lavender-themed activities, including workshops, demonstrations and an open air market packed with more than 100 Michigan artists, craftspeople and local farmers. Patrons can even create works of art with lavender-scented paint.

“We have lots and lots of free classes educating people in a wide range of things such as growing lavender, cooking with lavender, harvesting lavender and what to do with your harvest,” Vasich added. “We have several classes that will focus on the many healing benefits of lavender. Most people don’t realize it’s good for cuts, burns and scrapes.”

Festivalgoers will get a chance to try lavender lemonade, as well as lavender ice cream, which is made exclusively for the festival by Uncle Ray’s Dairyland in Fenton.

“It has a very subtle hint of lavender,” Vasich said of the ice cream. “It’s very rich and creamy. It’s very, very good.”

To help maintain a relaxed, calm atmosphere at the festival, harpist Karen Otsby will perform each day of the event. In addition, Revitalizing Touch Wellness Spa of Rochester will offer free chair massages.

Vasich said the Michigan Lavender Festival has expanded dramatically since it started. Last year, about 4,500 people attended the event.

Throughout the years, the event has moved from Vasich’s lavender boutique in Romeo to an outdoor yard to its current home at Blake Farms, where the festival has been hosted for the past two years.

“It’s been a huge, popular event for us,” Blake Farms Co-owner Paul Blake said. “The festival has been getting bigger and bigger each year. We’re looking forward to it.”

The Blakes have revamped their menu for this year’s Lavender Festival by adding new, healthier options.

“We have a unique menu featuring a lot of healthy products and lavender-infused products, such as salads and ice cream,” Blake said. “We’ll have pick-your-own lavender along with other crops that are in season.”

Raspberries and cherries are ready for harvest, while strawberries are winding down for the season, Blake noted. Lavender plants will be for sale.

At 11:30 a.m. each day, Andrew Blake of Blake Farms will host a class on the history of hard cider. The Blakes are planning to unveil a new hard cider and winery division this August.

Vasich is the author of “The Lavender Gourmet,” which features more than 140 culinary recipes that showcase the versatile, flavorful herb. She started her own line of herbal body care in 1998 and opened Gabriel’s Garden Lavender Boutique on Main Street in Romeo.

“It feels like you’ve been invited to a big garden party in your friend’s backyard,” she noted about the event. “We hope the community comes out to support local artists and businesses.”

For more information, go to michiganlavenderfestival.net or call 810-523-9853.